Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/128

 96 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS tween the bank and President Jackson, caused by the removal of the deposits in October, 1833, Mr. Polk, now chairman of the committee, supported the executive. His speech in opening the debate summarized the material facts and arguments on the Democratic side of the question. George Mc- Duffie, leader of the opposition, bore testimony in his concluding remarks to the boldness and manli ness with which Mr. Polk had assumed the only position that could be judiciously taken. Mr. Polk was elected speaker of the house of repre sentatives in December, 1835, and held that office till 1839. He gave to the administration of Martin Van Buren the same unhesitating support he had accorded to that of President Jackson, and, though taking no part in the discussions, he approved of the leading measures recommended by the former, including the cession of the public lands to the states, the pre-emption law, and the proposal to establish an independent treasury, and exerted his influence to secure their adoption. He was the speaker during five sessions, and it was his fortune to preside over the house at a period when party feelings were excited to an unusual degree. Not withstanding the fact that during the first session more appeals were taken from his decisions than were ever known before, he was uniformly sus tained by the house, and frequently by leading members of the Whig party. Although he was